DEVELOPING PROBLEM – SOLVING SKILLS: The Minister And Church Problem

Church growth teachings are incomplete without adequate enlightenment on church problems and proffering suggested solutions that will result in the upward and onward movement of the church. Like every other institution of God, the church has had her own fair share of problems. Right from her inception the church has not been immune from problems. However, it seems the situation is getting out of hand and getting to alarming proportions. Every church is dogged by one problem or another and in most cases, the progress, growth and well – being of the church is hindered. Most of the problems plaguing the churches today are unnecessary and unwarranted.

There are four types of people in the church:

Problem causers – 25%
Problem identifier – 15%
Problem propagator – 55%
Problem solver 5%

There are three things we must know about church problems:

You can’t stop them from coming
You can’t run from them
You can solve them

Church problems comes in different ways and for different reason. Therefore, we shall look at this subject from two broad headings for proper understanding – SPIRITUAL and HUMAN

A. SPIRITUAL SOURCES

These are problems associated with the founding of the church in the world. Problems from spiritual sources come mainly from activities of the devil and his cohorts (Mathew 16: 18). They come in various forms: –

Persecution of believers and church
Instigation of people against the church
Legislation against the church
Sowing seeds of discord, disunity in the church
Causing unrest, misunderstanding and misrepresentation in the church
Financial problems and retardation
Coldness, lukewarmness and general apart and non – growth
Lack of growth, progress, fruitlessness. Small and struggling

B. HUMAN RESOURCES.

This is the alarming and worrisome aspect of myriads of problems confronting the church today. There are many problems that are ascribed to the devil but caused by human foibles and failures.

1. Problems from members

Murmuring and complaining
Lack of true knowledge of God
Hypocrisy and secret sin
Scandal and rebellious
Accusation and character assassination
Immaturity and worldliness
Resistance to change
Existence of differences

These are what the Epistles addressed and tried to rectify in the first church.

2. Problem from associate leaders – IITim. 4:10

Elders, Deacons

Differences of vision
Divided loyalty
Disobedience to constituted authority
Improper ambition and position conscious
Envy, jealousy and backsliding
Rebellion and breakaway
Financial impropriety and unfaithfulness
Amorous and immoral dealings
Hypocrisy and backsliding
Pride and arrogancy of gift and talents
Unspirituality and carnality
False teachings
Visiting ministers
Pastor’s wife.

3. Ministerial problems

Pride, boasting and bragging
Unforgiving spirit and lack of love
Carnality and lack of immaturity
Too much programming
Bad influence of family
Inferiority complex and lack of genuine call
Surrendering leadership to lower forces
Infability and impervious to suggestion
Critical spirit toward honest intentions
Digression from the word – II Peter 2: 1-3
Christopaganism (working for God with principle of Satan)
Moral failure
Financial impropriety
Prayerlessness and lack of vision
Insensitivity of people’s welfare
Oppression of laymen
Failure to learn fresh new ideas
Lack of health self-image and leadership roles.

3. FIVE WAS PEOPLE DEAL WITH PROBLEMS

Total war – intimidation
Cold war – irritation
Suppression – inhibition
Avoidance – isolation
Problem – solving – interaction

4. SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS

Be positive and secure in God
Check your scriptural direction and precedent
Pray much and get God’s leading
Be broad minded and spiritual
Courage to do what is right and change
Resist and bind the spirit that brings problems
Be wise and informed
Set up a strong prayer base
Personal approach is paramount
Take initiative and act matured
Respect the authority and wisdom of the body of Christ.